Technical Architect - Distribution SCADA

Company: FirstEnergy Corp
Location: Akron
Posted on: January 21, 2023

Job Description:

FirstEnergy at a Glance We are a forward-thinking electric utility powered by a diverse team of employees committed to making customers' lives brighter, the environment better and our communities stronger. FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, FirstEnergy includes one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, and a regulated generating fleet with a total capacity of more than 3,500 megawatts. About the Opportunity This is an open position with FirstEnergy Service Co., a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. What you'll do: As part of the larger IT Distribution SCADA team the Distribution SCADA Architect champions and communicates the architectural vision for Distribution SCADA. This architect plans and proposes solutions based on the electrical system to create and influence electrical modeling practices, SCADA communication designs, field interfaces with RTU designs as well as influences key software improvements with vendor partners. The architect will work directly with the Distribution SCADA team and across IT Infrastructure teams to implement and support the Distribution SCADA platform comprised of three regional SCADA systems, thousands of RTUs, DMS advanced applications simulation - their related hardware and software - across five states - for FirstEnergy Utilities. Job Responsibilities: Drive innovation:

• Lead the development, collaboration and ownership of DSCADA Distribution Requirements documents for continuous improvement
• Collaborate and build consensus for Dx standards with DCC Support, ADMS Support, Distribution Planning and Protection, Substation Standards and IT Transmission Support.
• Act as lead for creating a 5-yr roadmap for the Distribution SCADA system in conjunction with existing roadmaps at FE
• Improve and elevate the SCADA modeling environment (SOURCE) to increase modeler efficiency, accuracy, and deployment time to better meet business needs
• Develop standards that create and maintain SCADA electrical models that closely represent the FirstEnergy Distribution system to allow advanced applications to be benchmarked and improved.
• Collaborate with field design teams to create standards that allow FE to continue to be best in class while following and enhancing distribution requirements
• Develop & design RTU cabinet hardware standards for distribution
• Build strong collaborative between the Tx/Dx SCADA and IT OT network organization
• Drive end-to-end testing of existing and proposed solutions in a representative environment, gather and analyze test data to support or refute proposed changes.
• Develop strategic relationships with technology vendors and external industry organizations/partners Manage work:
  • Drive the initiation, monitoring, implementation, and completion of IT work towards architected standards
  • Serve as technical support for questions on adopted standards
  • Engage in procurement and rollover strategy for equipment and software
  • Coordinate with team resources to schedule, assign and execute work in order of priority
  • Develop quarterly plans and estimates for work to be accomplished, monitor progress and quality, and report on status.
  • Access risk, provide options, and define impacts of options, when creating and revising standards Maintain systems control: Strive for SCADA operational excellence
    • Ensure solutions achieve 99.999% uptime
    • Work with internal stakeholders to ensure designs that meet the security requirements of FE Real-Time Systems o Implement SCADA tools that increase speed to market
    • Drive continuous improvement with IT Infrastructure teams
    • Provide key editorial oversight to the various procedures, standards, and references, owned, contributed to, or utilized by IT Distribution SCADA o Coordinate lessons learned activities from system outages or widespread events to ensure the root cause of failures is understood and recommend actions to leadership to prevent reoccurrence Required Qualifications: --- Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, Information Systems Management, Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technologies a similar related technical discipline, or commensurate experience.
      • Commensurate experience includes but is not limited to an additional 3 years of professional experience working with EMS/DMS systems beyond what is required below. --- A minimum of 2 years of experience with GE (legacy Alstom) eterra systems - including but not limited to one or more of the following: eterraHabitat, eterraPlatform, eterraControl, eterraSource and associated tools. Experience in the following specific areas is preferred: o Experience with GE (legacy Alstom) eterra EMS/DMS system components, software, and management principles.
        • Ability to manage PROCMAN, CFGCTRL, NETIO, ISD and associated system configurations, and architectures.
        • Experience with hdbrio, hdbimport/export, HabConnect tools o Familiarity with eterra database schemas including SCADAMOM and/or ALARM --- Working within a diverse team environment configuring and/or developing complex IT solutions --- Experience managing high availability of complex data sets, RTU configurations, SCADA communications and/or protocols --- Experience with real-time systems, real-time architectures and databases including modeling and revising data through software applications --- Applying project management principles and methodologies --- Experience with EMS modeling and display building tools --- Experience with C++, C#, Perl, Python, or Powershell programming languages --- Experience with DNP3.0 SCADA protocol --- Experience with RS232, RS485, and Ethernet (IP) --- Strong analytical, decision making, and planning skills to effectively resolve technical problems. --- Willingness to work flexible hours and be available for call in and after-hours work --- Strong interpersonal, communications, presentation, training & mentoring skills Preferred Qualifications: --- Concentration, experience, or advanced coursework in Power Systems Engineering is strongly preferred --- Demonstrated experience and understanding of business processes supported by the Distribution SCADA organization, ideally Work Management - SCOREs, IT-NOW, SORs --- Data communications and networking knowledge
          • Routing and switching
          • Understanding complex layered networking technologies such as MPLS, VPLS, or BGP routing instances o Understanding stateful firewall and IPS functionality, rule creation and troubleshooting traffic flows --- Windows operating systems knowledge, Active Directory, PowerShell, and advanced connectivity/network settings Benefits, Compensation & Workforce Diversity At FirstEnergy, employees are key to our success. We depend on their talents to meet the challenges of our changing business environment. We are committed to rewarding individual and team efforts through our total rewards philosophy which includes competitive pay plus incentive compensation, a company-sponsored pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution, a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs, as well as skills development training with tuition reimbursement. Please visit our website at to learn more about all of our employee rewards programs. FirstEnergy proudly supports workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. No recruiters or agencies without a previously signed contract. Unable to sponsor or transfer H-1B visas at this time. Safety Safety is a core value for FirstEnergy and is essential to all of our business activities. We ensure employees have the tools, information, and processes to perform their duties in a manner that assures safety for themselves, their co-workers, our customers and the public. Our goals are to provide a safe work environment, to maintain an accident-free, injury-free workplace, and to promote and maintain public safety. To meet these goals, we dedicate ourselves to achieving world-class safety standards. Position Classification Exempt FirstEnergy Human Resources Team

Keywords: FirstEnergy Corp, Akron , Technical Architect - Distribution SCADA, IT / Software / Systems , Akron, Ohio